"Enlightened Mind? Taboo-Tier?" Aotian repeated the name that surfaced in his mind, surprised.
"Yes." Rihai confirmed with a smile, which quickly faded a little. "Remember when I mentioned that five-element roots were once considered supreme in ancient times?"
"Uhm, I remember." Aotian nodded, recalling the conversation.
"My father was the one who told me that… and he was the one who gave me this technique and shared its story." Her voice held a hint of longing as she continued.
"A long time ago, a man who reached the pinnacle of cultivation in this world had, with great difficulty, a son..."
As Rihai spoke, images began to form in Aotian's mind.
A burly, imposing man stood alone atop a cliff, cradling a child with a gaze both tender and determined.
"The child was his pride and joy. But, to his despair, the child possessed only low-level five-element spiritual roots. As his son grew, he witnessed the difficulties imposed by those roots. Even with his vast resources, the child simply didn't have enough lifespan to nurture those roots across many realms. With no other way to help his son, he placed his final hope… in himself."
The images shifted to the same man, now with a fierce and resolute expression, watching his son struggle in vain against his own limitations.
"He then went into seclusion, determined to create a technique capable of guiding the five elements simultaneously. For years, his obsession was perfecting this technique, convinced that once completed, it could help his son cultivate faster and overcome the limitations of his roots. But when he finally emerged from his seclusion, eager to save his son… all he found was a gravestone."
Rihai finished in a melancholic tone, her voice heavy with sorrow.
Aotian was surprised by the tragic ending but felt there was more to the story than she was revealing.
He glanced at the jade slip in his hand, wondering how Rihai's father had come to possess it.
"What happened to him afterward?" Aotian asked, curious.
Rihai sighed softly but continued.
"The son may have died, but he left an heir behind. And as if fate wished to mock the difference between people, that child was born with extraordinary and terrifying talent. The old cultivator then took the child as his own and devoted all his love to him—his only grandson..."
Rihai finished with a sad smile.
Aotian knew this wasn't the whole story but chose not to press further.
He observed her for a moment before asking:
"Rihai, do you have any connection to this story?"
If she didn't want to answer, all she had to do was smile at him—the silent code they had established for secrets.
But perhaps the fear of almost losing him when he formed his roots had made her more open, and this time she chose to answer.
In a soft whisper, she revealed:
"The old man… was my great-grandfather. And the child… was my father."
Aotian's eyes widened in surprise. He had suspected some connection, but not one so direct.
'Rihai's past is even more complicated than I imagined…' he thought, feeling his determination grow. He had to become stronger to protect her.
"But that doesn't matter now. Let's talk about the technique."
Rihai shifted the subject, clearly unwilling to delve further.
Aotian nodded. The truth would come out in time. There was no point in pushing—neither of them would benefit from it.
"This technique made my great-grandfather, who was already at the peak of cultivation, lose centuries of lifespan to create it. And he still needed an epiphany in the middle of the process." Her voice carried a bitter tone, without the slightest trace of pride.
For her family, this was a dark tale of loss and obsession—not a glorious achievement to be celebrated.
"Taboo techniques have no defined level. They are powerful at every stage and become even stronger as the cultivator advances. That's why they are extremely rare and difficult to create." She explained before continuing.
"The technique is called Enlightened Mind and allows the user to develop parallel thought processes. With each major cultivation realm, they can split off a new line of thought, making it possible to focus on two or more things at once. Since you're still in Qi Refinement, you'll only be able to cultivate one extra mind, but that will already be a huge boost to your cultivation."
Aotian was astonished—not just by Rihai's explanation, but because this technique seemed incredibly compatible with him.
But now was not the time to dwell on it. He had something more important to do.
"Rihai, thank you so much! Thank you for caring so much about me."
He gently pulled her into his arms and placed a tender kiss on her head.
She had faced her past just to give him an incredibly powerful technique that was meant to be inherited only by her family.
"Mm…" She murmured, returning the embrace.
For a while, they remained like that, wrapped in each other's warmth.
Aotian stroked Rihai's golden hair, feeling the softness of the strands slipping through his fingers while her gentle fragrance surrounded him.
'Rihai has become my safe harbor in this world…'
Since meeting her, his mind had felt lighter. Before, he was always calculating every step. Now, he felt increasingly free.
This thought consumed him completely, and he couldn't help but express it.
"Rihai…"
He slid his hand along her face, holding it gently and tilting it slightly upward.
Their gazes met—blue and black—exchanging silent emotions.
"I love you."
Rihai's heart pounded. Her face flushed deeply, and her once steady gaze softened like the evening breeze.
"Aotian… promise me you'll never leave me."
"I promise. I will never leave you. I will always be by your side."
Her smile shone like a gentle moonlight. A soft whisper floated in the air.
"I love you too…"
And then, slowly, she leaned in to seal their lips together.
The next moment, the kiss deepened, and their bodies drew even closer.
Aotian's breathing became heavy as his hands finally slid down to the soft mounds of Rihai.
"Hnn…" A soft moan escaped her lips as she felt them being squeezed.
She, in turn, felt her own instincts awaken. Her hesitant fingers trailed down to Aotian's abdomen, touching it timidly.
This single touch was enough to ignite even more desire in him. Then, guiding her delicate fingers, he slid her hand into his pants.
Rihai held her breath as she found herself holding that thick, hot, and hard thing again.
Aotian let out a restrained groan, shuddering with pleasure. His body felt like it was on fire.
Unable to hold back, he deepened the kiss even more while guiding her hand in a slow rhythm, exploring new sensations. But soon, he realized his pants were in the way, so, without hesitation, he slid them down, allowing his junior brother to lift his head proudly.
Rihai, seeing the scene, flushed even more, her breathing unsteady. Her eyes lingered for a moment, but then, she hesitated.
"Aotian… I don't think I'm ready yet."
She didn't want this to happen without meaning. To her, this step was too important to take without true commitment. She wanted marriage first.
Aotian smiled, understanding.
"I know…" His voice was gentle and reassuring. Then, he guided her hand with care. "Just help me with your hands. We'll leave the rest for after the wedding."
His words brought relief to Rihai. He wasn't frustrated or upset. He simply respected her decision, which reassured her.
Relaxing a little, she gathered her courage and continued, now more curious, feeling every detail of what she was holding.
Aotian, in turn, was completely immersed in the sensations, deepening the kisses and exploring her body with careful touches.
But the pleasure quickly built up until he finally reached his limit.
His embrace tightened, and with a final, muffled groan against her lips, he released in her hands.
Rihai felt the unexpected warmth spread over her skin and looked down, surprised.
Aotian opened his eyes and smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry, Rihai… It felt so good I couldn't hold back."
He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, touching her with affection.
"I-It's okay…" She murmured, her face still flushed red.
Aotian leaned in close to her ear and whispered softly, expectantly:
"Do you want me to help you now?"
Embarrassment overtook Rihai, and before he could insist, she quickly got up and ran to her room.
Aotian chuckled, got dressed again, and turned his attention back to the jade slip Rihai had given him.
Inside her room, Rihai shut the door quickly, her heart pounding against her chest.
Still feeling the warmth on her skin, she went to the bathroom and stared at her reflection.
The fabric of her dress was also stained with the white, viscous liquid.
Curious, she slid a finger over the substance, feeling its texture.
Then, hesitantly, she brought her hand to her nose and inhaled the masculine and different scent.
Her face turned even redder.
Looking around to make sure she was alone, she let out a shy sigh.
Then, hesitantly, she extended her tongue and tasted a bit.
Her eyes widened slightly.
'It's not bad…'
Soon, under the constant heat, her fingers slowly trailed down her body, and before long, the quiet bathroom filled with the soft sounds of spring blooming.